Depending on how you feel about math, the Albert Clock ($295) is "either the coolest clock ever created, or the most frustrating," says Kelsey Kloss at Elle Decor. Devised by a German designer who wanted to help kids with arithmetic, this minimalist décor item turns the hour and minute of the day into a pair of math problems, and it can be set to four different levels of difficulty. Its sleek, no-nonsense look ensures it doesn't have to be hidden away in the kids' den. "Besides, wouldn't you feel just a little smarter if you had to calculate 6 x 3 and 6 + 7 x 7 to figure out it was 6:55?"
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